Mixing and kneading machine for earthy and mineral materials.



G. EIRICH. MIXING AND KNEADING MACHINE FOR EARTHY AND MINERAL MATERIALS.

- 1 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I6, 1912- 1,155,712. a Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.,wAsHlNGToN, D, c.

GUSTAV EIRICH,,0F HARDHEIM, GERMANY.

MIXING AND KNEADING MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

FOB. EAB'IIIY AND MINERAL MATERIALS.

Patented Got. 5, 1915.

Application filed September 16, 1912. Serial No. 720,581.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gus'rAv EIRIOH, a subject of the Grand Duke of Baden, residing at Hardheim, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mixing and Kneading Machines for Earthy and Mineral Materials, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention refers to improvements in mixing or kneading devices such as are used for mixing earthy or mineral materials although I do not specifically confine myself to the applications referred to.

The object of my invention is to provide an arrangement in which the mixing elements are eihciently protected against the effects of strains or stresses produced by 0bstructions in the materials being mixed.

My improvement comprises substantially horizontally disposed sleeves in which shafts are journaled, said shafts having portions bent at angles and carrying scraper, mixer 0r kneading blades. These blades are yieldable in the arc of a circle against the tension of springs when meeting any large or small obstacle or obstruction which ordinarily would be likely to damage the machine or the blades. Another purpose of my arrangement is to obtain a more compact and more eflicient machine and to provide a structure in which the springs are fully protected against contact with the materials being mixed, whereby clogging of the springs as well as the possibility of the breaking of the springs when the blades come into contact with extra large obstacles is entirely avoided. My invention will be fully described hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings a preferred form of the invention is shown.

Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line A- B of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of one of the mixing blades with its supporting connection shown in section. Fig. at is an elevation of Fig. 3, seen from the side of the blade. Fig. 5 represents in side elevation and plan view the lid of the sleeve which serves for putting the spring under tension.

The mixing apparatus constructed according to this invention essentially consists of mixing blades a which move concentrically with the axis of the mixing chamber, of the mixing blades 6 which execute an eccentric movement, a scraper blade 0 which travels alongthe inner face of the side wall of the mixing chamber. The three blades a, b, o are mounted upon shafts d, e, and f respectively which" are bent at right angles and mounted in sleeves'g, it and 2' respectively. The said sleeves are arranged parallel with the bottom of the mixing chamber, the sleeves g and i being fixed to the lower surfaceof a horizontal toothed wheel 70 connected with the driving mechanism of the machine and the sleeves it being secured to the arm Z of the stud m mounted in a base of the toothed wheel in. In other words the means for operatively connecting each blade or mixing element with the propelling mechanism comprises a member which is rigidly connected with the propelling mechanism andanother member movable on said rigid member, one of said members being tubular and forming a protective casing for the other. The movable member is arranged to rock about its own axis on the rigid memher and is arranged with said axis located in a plane approximately at right angles to the axis of the propelling mechanism and extending in a direction transverse to the plane of the mixing elements. The latter is attached to the movable member by means of a connection which extends from the movable member in a direction contrary to the travel of the mixing element whereby said mixing element is caused to trail behind the pivot of the movable member and is free to rise upwardly from the mixture under treatment in the mixing receptacle or chamber. The connection with the mixing element is so arranged that the upward rise of said element is substantially in its own plane whereby said mixing element readily yields when encountering an obstacle in said mixture and is thus relieved of all strains which other wise would result from engagement with such obstacle. The shafts cl, 6 and f are surrounded in the well known manner by spiral springs 771 the ends a of which are fixed in the bottom of the sleeves the other ends a being hooked into removable lids 0. The lids 0 have at their outer rim a certain number of radial grooves 29 adapted to receive a wedge g fixed to the shafts and serving for connecting the shafts with the lids 0 and the springs n. The springs 01. continuously push the shafts and consequently the blades against the bottom of the mixing chamber. In order to prevent theblades from touching the bottom of the mixing chamber the lowest position .of the blades is limited by stops 7 carried by the sleeve supports against which abut the shafts through the action of the springs n. The stops can be regulated by any Well known means such as washers or regulating screws so that the distance of the blades from the mixing surface can be regulated. I

The tension of the springs n can beregulated in the well known manner by turning the lids 0, said lids being secured in position by means ofthe wedges g which en age with the corresponding groove 3). The sleeves are further closed at the upper end by caps s so that no material can get into the sleeves.

When the blades abut against an obstacle which offers a greater resistance than the tension of the springs a, the shafts (Z, 6 and f are turned up against the action of the springs 11. as shown in Fig. 4 in dotted lines so that they can slide over the obstacle.

It will be observed that the wedge g and the grooves 39 constitute an impositive lock which should the obstacle proove too :large,

to be overcome within the range of the spring would permit the Wedge g to slide' out of its groove to provide a still further yielding of the blade or blades. This however would only occur rmder extraordinary conditions.

I claim 1. A mixing machine comprising a mixing receptacle, a mixing element movable therein, propelling mechanism for actuating said mixing element, a member rigidly connected with said mechanism, a member movable on said rigidly connected member, one of said members covering and. protecting the other, said movable member being ar-' rangedto rock on its own axis, said axis being located in a plane approximately at right angles to the axis of rotation'oi' said propelling mechanism, and extending also in a direction transverse to the plane of the mixing element and a connection between said movable member and the mixing element whereby said element is free to rise upwardly in substantially its own plane from the mixture under treatment.

2. A mixing machine comprising a mixing receptacle, a mixing element movable therein, propelling mechanism for actuating said mixing element, a member rigidly connected with said mechanism, a member movable on said rigidly connected member, one

of said members covering and protecting theother, said movable member being ;ar ranged to rock on its own axis, said axis being located in a plane approximately at right angles to the axis of rotation of said propelling mechanism and extending also in a direction transverse to the planevoit' the mixing element and a connection between said blade,

trail behind the pivot of the movable member. V

A mixing machine comprising a mixing receptacle, .a mixing element movable therein, propelling mechanism for actuating said mixing element, a member rigidly connected withsaid mechanism, a member mov able on said rigidly connected member, one of said members being tubular and forming a protective casing for the other, a torsional spring in said casing and with the other member, said spring being arranged to resist the rotation of the movable member in a direction away from the mixture under treatment while tending to rotate same in the opposite direct on, the movable member being arranged {t0 rock on its own axis, said ,axis being located in a plane approximately at right. angles to the axis of rotation of the propelling mecha'' nism andextendingalso in a directiontransverse to the planeof the mixing element and a connection between said movable member and .the mixing element whereby said element .is free to rise upwardly in substantially itsown plane from the mixture under treatment.

4. A mixing machine comprising a mixing receptacle, a mixing element movable therein, propelling mechanism for actuating --the moving element to cause the latter to connected therewith said mixingelement, a memberrigidly ,con-

nected with said mechanism, a member ,movable 011 said rigidly connected ,member, one oi said members being tubular and forming a protective casing for theother, a torsional spring in said casing connected therewith" and with thebther member, said spring be ing arranged to resist the rotation of the motion between said movable member and the mixing element whereby said element is free to rise upwardly in substantially its own plane from the mixture under treat ment. r

5. A mixing machine comprising a mixing receptacle, a mixing blade movable therein, propelling mechanism for actuating a casing .carried by saidmecha- 7. movable member in a d rectlon away from V nism, a shaft connected with the mixing blade and adapted to rock in said casing, a disk rotatably mounted on said casing, an impositive connection between said disk and said shaft and a torsional spring in said casing connected therewith and withsaid disk, said spring resisting the rocking of said shaft in one direction and tending to rock it in the opposite direction whereby the mixing blade is normally pressed toward the inner surface of said receptacle, said impositive connection between said disk and shaft permitting a rotation of the latter relatively to the spring.

6. A mixing machine comprising a mixing receptacle, a mixing blade movable therein, propelling mechanism for actuating said blade, a casing carried by said mechanism, a shaft connected with the mixing blade and adapted to rock in said casing, a torsional spring in said casing connected therewith, and an impositive connection between said spring and said shaft, said spring resisting the rocking of said shaft in one direction and tending to rock it in the opposite direction whereby said mixing blade is normally pressed toward the inner surface of said receptacle, said impositive connection between said spring and shaft permitting a rotation of the latter relatively to the spring.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAV EIRICH.

Witnesses J osnrn HEIFFER, WILHELM TRAUTZ.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

